Michigan Master Plumber License Requirements (2026)

The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) State Plumbing Board licenses plumbers and plumbing contractors statewide under the Skilled Trades Regulation Act (MCL 339.5101 et seq.) and the Forbes Plumbing Act (MCL 338.901 et seq.). Michigan issues four primary credentials — Apprentice Plumber, Journeyman Plumber, Master Plumber, and Plumbing Contractor (a business license that requires a Master Plumber as the qualifying individual). The Journeyman path requires 6,000 hours of on-the-job training plus 576 hours of related classroom instruction (typically a three-year apprenticeship). The Master Plumber credential requires an additional two years of journeyman experience plus a separate Master examination. Michigan adopts the Michigan Plumbing Code based on the International Plumbing Code (IPC).

The Licensing Authority

Michigan LARA — State Plumbing Board (LARA Plumbing Board) is the statutory authority responsible for issuing and enforcing this license under Skilled Trades Regulation Act, MCL 339.5101 et seq.; Forbes Plumbing Act, MCL 338.901 et seq.. The State Plumbing Board licenses apprentice, journeyman, and master plumbers and plumbing contractors statewide. The board adopts the Michigan Plumbing Code based on the IPC.

Official portal: https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/bcc/divisions/plumbing
Address: P.O. Box 30254, Lansing, MI 48909
Phone: (517) 241-9325

Baseline Eligibility

The applicant must be at least 18 years of age and possess a valid Social Security Number. No Michigan residency requirement.

Good moral character

LARA evaluates good moral character under MCL 339.204. Felony convictions and prior license revocations are reviewed individually.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the application.

Experience and Education Requirements

The experience bar is 5 years of Journeyman: 6,000 hours of on-the-job plumbing experience plus 576 hours of related classroom instruction (typically a three-year LARA-recognized apprenticeship). Master: an additional two years (4,000 hours) of experience as a Michigan-licensed Journeyman Plumber., and it must be backed by verifiable records — typically payroll, tax, project, or supervisor documentation covering the claimed period.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

LARA Plumbing Apprentice registration record
Apprenticeship completion certificate from a US Department of Labor or LARA-recognized program
Notarized employer affidavits documenting hours worked under a licensed Journeyman or Master Plumber
College transcripts for any related plumbing technology coursework

Education substitution

Up to 2,000 of the 6,000 required hours may be substituted by an approved associate degree in plumbing technology. The 576 hours of classroom instruction cannot be waived.

The Licensing Examination

The exam, administered by PSI Services LLC (under contract to LARA), breaks into the parts shown below — all must be passed before licensure:

Michigan Journeyman Plumber Examination — Michigan Plumbing Code, theory, isometrics, and calculations — 80 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 70%
Michigan Master Plumber Examination — Michigan Plumbing Code, advanced sizing, and business and law (taken after two years as a journeyman) — 100 questions, 300 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $95 examination fee per attempt paid to PSI when scheduling.

Retake policy: Failed examinations may be re-taken by paying a new $95 fee. Each application remains valid for two years.

Financial Security and Insurance

No statewide contractor license surety bond is required for this credential in the cited sources. Project-specific, permit, or public-works bonds may still apply, so confirm bonding before bidding a given job.

General liability

LARA does not impose a state-level general liability minimum for individual plumbers. Plumbing contractor business licenses typically require $500,000 to $1,000,000 of liability coverage at the municipal level.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation insurance is mandatory in Michigan under the Worker's Disability Compensation Act for any business meeting the statutory employee threshold.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement requirement for individual plumbers. Plumbing Contractor business licenses must provide proof of insurance and a qualifying Master Plumber designation.

Fee Schedule

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$75
Examination	$95
Initial license — sole owner	$110
Initial license — non-sole owner	$200
Renewal (every 3 years)	$110

License Renewal

The Michigan Master Plumber (and Plumbing Contractor) must be renewed every 3 years. The fee to renew is presently $110. Michigan plumber licenses renew on a three-year cycle.

Continuing education: 15 hours of LARA-approved continuing education each three-year renewal cycle, including a mandatory Michigan Plumbing Code update.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Michigan Plumber License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity Map

Michigan grants no NASCLA reciprocity for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Wisconsin	Limited bilateral	Limited bilateral journeyman and master plumber recognition with Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services.
Ohio	Limited bilateral	Limited bilateral recognition for Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board plumbing contractors in good standing.
Illinois	Limited bilateral	Limited bilateral recognition for Illinois Department of Public Health licensed plumbers.

Reciprocal applicants must still pass the Michigan-specific portion of the exam covering the Michigan Plumbing Code.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Plumber license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

The Licensing Roadmap

Register as a Michigan Plumbing Apprentice. File the LARA Plumbing Apprentice registration before performing any plumbing work for compensation.
Complete 6,000 hours of on-the-job training. Hours must be supervised by a licensed Journeyman or Master Plumber and logged on LARA-approved forms.
Complete 576 hours of related classroom instruction. Typically three years of evening classes through a community college or trade union apprenticeship program.
Apply for and pass the Journeyman Plumber Examination. Submit the LARA Journeyman application with hours documentation and exam fee. Score 70% or better on the PSI exam.
Work two years as a Michigan Journeyman Plumber. Document 4,000 additional hours of journey-level experience under a Master Plumber.
Apply for and pass the Master Plumber Examination. Submit the Master application and pass the 100-question PSI exam at 70% or better.
Obtain the Plumbing Contractor business license (if self-employed). File the LARA Plumbing Contractor application designating the Master Plumber as the qualifying individual.

Common Application Pitfalls

The following pitfalls summarize the issues most likely to delay, return, or derail a Michigan Plumber application based on the published board instructions and source materials cited on this page.

Working without apprentice registration

Performing plumbing work for compensation before registering as a LARA apprentice is unlicensed practice and the hours cannot be counted toward the 6,000-hour requirement.

Skipping classroom hours

The 576-hour classroom instruction requirement is mandatory and cannot be waived. LARA verifies transcripts directly with the school.

Confusing IPC with UPC

Michigan uses the IPC-based Michigan Plumbing Code, not the Uniform Plumbing Code. Study the correct base document.

Underestimating sizing calculations

Both the Journeyman and Master exams include drain, vent, and water supply sizing problems. Most failures come from calculation errors, not code lookup mistakes.

Operating a plumbing business without the Plumbing Contractor license

A Master Plumber credential alone does not authorize a business to bid or contract. The separate Plumbing Contractor business license is required.

Before Filing: A Checklist

Ahead of submission to LARA Plumbing Board, confirm every item on this short list:

☐ LARA Plumbing Apprentice registration
☐ 6,000 hours of supervised on-the-job training documentation
☐ 576 hours of related classroom instruction transcript
☐ Journeyman Plumber PSI exam pass at 70% or better
☐ Two years of journey-level experience documentation
☐ Master Plumber PSI exam pass at 70% or better
☐ Plumbing Contractor business license application with proof of insurance (if self-employed)

Preparation Resources

These materials are drawn from the regulator's own citations and the references applicants commonly use to prepare. CLR receives no compensation for listing them.

Michigan Plumbing Code (current edition) — Michigan LARA Bureau of Construction Codes. Primary technical reference. Open-book at the PSI test center.
International Plumbing Code (current edition) — International Code Council. Base code adopted by Michigan with state amendments.
Plumber's Exam Preparation Guide — Howard Massey / Craftsman Book Company. Practice problems for sizing, isometrics, and drain calculations on the Michigan exam.

Other Michigan Trade Licenses

CLR maintains guides for additional Michigan trades; the published ones are listed here:

Answers to Common Questions

How many hours does Michigan require for a Journeyman Plumber?

6,000 hours of supervised on-the-job training plus 576 hours of related classroom instruction, typically completed through a three-year LARA-recognized apprenticeship.

How do I become a Michigan Master Plumber?

Hold a Michigan Journeyman Plumber license for at least two years (4,000 hours of journey-level work), then apply to LARA and pass the Master Plumber examination at 70%.

What plumbing code does Michigan use?

The Michigan Plumbing Code is based on the International Plumbing Code (IPC) with Michigan-specific amendments adopted by LARA.

Do I need both a Master Plumber license and a Plumbing Contractor license?

Yes if you operate a self-employed plumbing business. The Master Plumber credential authorizes you as an individual; the Plumbing Contractor license authorizes the business and requires the Master as the qualifying individual.

How often does the Michigan plumber license renew?

Every three years. Renewal requires LARA-approved continuing education including a Michigan Plumbing Code update.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-05-06 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-04